The Anambra State government says those involved in illegal collection of tolls in markets and other places will be made to eel the full weight of the law

The Anmbra State government has promised to deal severely with criminally minded persons and groups devising means to extort money from people through various means. C. Don Adinuba, the state commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, who made the disclosure in a press statement, alleged that some criminally minded persons have continued to extort money from innocent persons in market places, streets and roads with collection of unauthorised levies. “These criminals collect levies unknown to the government. Some of the tolls are called ground tolls, container tolls and wheel barrow tolls. Through these illegal tolls, importers, distributors and retailers are forced to pay huge amounts of money. Worse, buyers of their products are compelled to part with various sums to cart them from one place to another, even when the goods are not transported in carts. This practice has led some people to seek to do business outside the state.”

Sadly, he said the extortionists claim that the tolls are being collected on behalf of the state government. He warned: “We would like to state for the umpteenth time that these tolls are not only illegal but also unconscionable.

“Even in the middle of the recent recession when various governments in Nigeria introduced different revenue generating schemes so as to meet their basic responsibilities, Governor Willie Obiano rather introduced an economic stimulus package in a bold move to lessen the economic burden on the people. Cart pushers, often referred to as wheel barrow men, were among the first set of the most vulnerable members of society, to be exempted from paying not only taxes but all kinds of revenue to the government,” he said.

The commissioner, therefore, said it “is heartless for any group of people in the market, or anywhere for that matter, to harass hapless citizens going about their legitimate business for payment of so-called government tolls.”

He said no such levies wheel barrow tolls, pitchers tolls, petty traders tolls, obstacle tolls, land tolls, container tolls and barrow tolls should be paid by anybody in the state.

Adinuba, consequently, said that the state government has authorised all security agencies in the state, especially the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Security and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as Operation Clean and healthy Anambra, OCHA, Brigade, “to arrest all the culprits who make life difficult for our people, especially the less privileged, in the markets and on the roads and streets.”

According to the commissioner, the Anambra State government is committed to the evolution of a more humane, caring and inclusive society, adding that the government is similarly committed to promoting the ease of doing business in the state. “We note with pride that Anambra State has in recent times recorded some notches up in the ease of doing business. We will sustain the momentum,” he said.

He warned that those seeking private gains to the detriment of Ndi Anambra State and their collective future will have no place in the state any more.

– Nov. 12, 2018 @ 18:12 GMT |